Piedmont Tech’s Early Care and Education Program Hosts Literacy Event

Piedmont Technical College’s early care and education program (ECD) recently hosted “Growing Literacy,” an event to promote literacy for nearly 60 area preschoolers from Cambridge Academy and All God’s Children.

The idea for the event came from the ECD Club’s involvement in the annual Literacy Alive event. When students discovered that event would not be held this year, they still wanted to do something for the preschool students in the community.

“There aren’t a lot of events for preschoolers. Most activities cater to school-age children,” said Ashley Hollingsworth, program coordinator for ECD. “We want to promote the importance of preschool and school-readiness, getting them ready to read before they enter school.”

The event was planned and implemented by students in the ECD program and each aspect of the day utilized the concepts taught in various classes. The preschoolers participated in a variety of activities including an interactive read-a-loud, face painting, games, songs and planting their own plant. Each child also received a free book provided by funds raised by the ECD Club and the visiting teachers were given a fern provided by the PTC horticulture program.

“It was a good learning experience for our students and the children,” said Hollingsworth. “A lot of our students will begin clinicals in the fall and it was a good experience to get them working with children prior to going into those facilities.”

The feedback from the students and the preschool teachers has been so positive that the program is planning to host another literacy event in the fall. They hope to expand the event to serve even more preschoolers.

“It was a wonderful day for our children,” said Susan Hollister, preschool teacher at Cambridge Academy. “So many smiling faces made literacy fun.”

For more information on the ECD program, contact Hollingsworth at (864) 941-8787 or hollingsworth.a@ptc.edu.

Photo Caption: Piedmont Technical College’s early care and education program (ECD) recently hosted “Growing Literacy,” an event to promote literacy for nearly 60 area preschoolers. Tammie Mallory, an ECD student from Greenwood (right), leads an interactive read-a-long activity.